Santa brought me a CED M2 Chronograph for Christmas. It's about time I started clocking my reloads, I've been reloading since 1990, everything has been plinking and Target loads. Now a buddy wants to get close to 3,000fps with a 45-70 with 225gr. Lehigh Defense bullets, Underwood states 2735ish. with 45-70. We might have to step up to .458 Win Mag to get that kind of performance. Ohio's new deer hunting rules are a wonderful thing. That will make for a pretty flat shooter out to 300yds.
My advice would be to buy the Underwood. Take one apart very carefully an study what he used to get what he got.
The firearm that is used will be crucial to strenght and performance.
Yeah, I've been studying it pretty intensely for the past month or so, we're kind of diving into unknown waters, there isn't much data for light bullets in 47-70. You don't need 400/500gr. Bullets for whitetail deer. Underwood and Lehigh Defense have some pretty interesting stuff for 10mm. that I might have to try out. I just received 2,500 coated bullets from Gallant bullets that I need to load first.
You aren't going to get to 3,000 fps in a solid out of a 45-70, at least not with anything resembling safe pressures. That would be possible with 458 Win, but just barely, and it has 20% more case capacity.